Owners of Xiaomi Redmi 7, who bought the device several years ago, often face a lack of system resources and accumulated software debris that cannot be removed by standard methods. Getting root rights (superuser rights) becomes the only effective way to revive the gadget by removing embedded advertising, system applications and expanding the functionality of the processor. However, the process on the shell of MIUI is much more complicated than on the stock Android, and requires careful approach to each step.
Modern methods, such as Magisk, allow you to modify the system without violating the integrity of the system partition, which is critical for the operation of banking applications. Unlike the old methods with SuperSU, current solutions are more flexible, but require prior unlocking of the bootloader, which is the longest step in the entire procedure. Before starting work, you need to understand the risks: interference in the boot sector can lead to a loss of warranty or, in the worst case, to turn the smartphone into a “brick”.
⚠️ Warning: Unlocking the bootloader on Xiaomi devices will result in the complete removal of all data from internal memory. be sure to back up important photos and contacts before starting any manipulations.
Tool and environment preparation
The success of the operation depends on 90% of the correct preparation of the workplace and software. You will need a computer running Windows (macOS and Linux process can differ drivers), USB-The cable and the smartphone itself with a battery charge of at least 60%, you also need to register a Mi Account and link it to the device, as without this, Xiaomi servers will not issue permission to unlock.
The first step is to install all the necessary drivers and utilities on the PC. ADB Fastboot drivers and specific drivers for MediaTek or Qualcomm (depending on the version of Redmi 7, as there are modifications on different chipsets). USB must be activated in the “Developers” menu, which is hidden by default.
- 📱 Redmi 7 smartphone with a tied Mi Account.
- 💻 PC with Windows and installed drivers ADB/Fastboot.
- 🔌 Original or qualitative USB-data-line.
- 📂 Downloaded image of firmware (Fastboot) ROM), corresponding version of the system on the phone.
It's important to download Fastboot ROM, not Recovery. The firmware image should be the same version as it is installed now, or newer, but never older, otherwise Anti-Rollback protection will work, which can irreversibly lock the device. The firmware file name usually contains the word "fastboot" and the.tgz extension.
☑️ Readiness for modification
Unlocking the bootloader (Bootloader)
This is the most critical stage without which the implementation of superuser rights is impossible. Xiaomi has implemented strict restrictions that require a wait of 168 hours (7 days) after the account is linked. If you try to unlock the device earlier, the utility will display an error indicating the remaining waiting time.
To start, download the official Mi Unlock Tool to your computer. Turn on the developer mode on your smartphone, go to the bootloader status menu and click Add Account and Device. After that, the phone will restart and the waiting timer will start on the company's servers.
fastboot oem unlockAfter the wait period expires, reconnect the phone in Fastboot mode (clamping the down volume and power buttons at the same time) and launch the Mi Unlock Tool. The utility will check the status of the device and, if all conditions are met, prompt you to unlock the bootloader. The process will take a few minutes, after which the device will be completely cleaned.
⚠️ Warning: Once the bootloader is unlocked, high-security features such as Google Pay (now Wallet) and some banking apps will stop working unless special concealment modules are used.
Extract and patch boot.img
The current method of obtaining rights does not require the firmware of third-party Recovery (like the TWRP), We're going to use Magisk to patch the boot image. First, extract the file. boot.img from the archive of the previously downloaded firmware, if the firmware comes in the form of one large file images.zip or payload.bin, It will have to be unpacked with special utilities such as Payload Dumper.
Copy the boot.img file into the smartphone’s internal memory. Next, install the Magisk app (.apk file) from the official GitHub repository. Launch the app, click the “Install” button next to the Magisk version, and select the “Select and patch file” option.
Specify the path to the copied file boot.img. The application will automatically apply the necessary changes and save a new file with a prefix magisk_patched_ This file now contains the code to get root access when the system starts.
- 📂 Copy the original boot.img phone-on.
- 🔧 Open Magisk Manager and click “Install».
- 📝 Select the option “Patch File” and specify boot.img.
- 💾 Wait for completion and copy the file magisk_patched.img back-to-PC.
File received magisk_patched.img You need to move back to the computer in the tool folder. ADB. It is this modified image that we will stitch into the device bootloader section through the command line.
What to do if you file payload.bin?
Firmware of modified image via Fastboot
The final step in implementing superuser rights is to write a patched file to the device's memory. Put Redmi 7 into Fastboot mode and connect it to your computer. Open the command line or PowerShell in the folder with the Android hare. ADB-utility.
Make sure the computer sees the device by entering the command fastboot devices. If you see the serial number in response, you can proceed.
fastboot flash boot magisk_patched.imgAfter a successful recording (OKAY message will appear), you need to start a reboot with the fastboot reboot command. The first start of the system can take more than usual - from 5 to 10 minutes, as applications are optimized and new access rights are applied.
If you see Magisk after downloading with the version installed and the Superuser switch activated, it's a success, and you can now install modules, uninstall system software, and customize the system for yourself.
| Phase | Action. | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Preparation | Backup and charging. | Low. |
| 2. Unlocking | Mi Unlock Tool | Loss of data |
| 3. Patching | Magisk + boot.img | Medium. |
| 4. Firmware | fastboot flash boot | Tall (Bootloop) |
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If after firmware the phone went into an endless restart (bootloop), press the volume button up and power to enter Recovery, and reset to factory settings (Wipe Data).
Possible problems and solutions
The Xiaomi Redmi 7 can be a difficult modification, and one of the common problems is the “Waiting for device” error in the firmware. USB-cable or reconnect to another port, preferably USB 2.0, located directly on the PC motherboard.
Another common problem is that banking applications fail, which is due to a system integrity check (SafetyNet/Play Integrity), and bypassing Magisk settings requires enabling the option “Zygisk” and “Enforce DenyList” by adding bank and Google Play Services apps, and may require hiding the Magisk app itself through the “Hide Magisk App” feature.
If the device stopped responding to Fastboot commands, the drivers may have gotten up wrong. Windows Device Manager should not have any unknown devices with yellow exclamation marks in Ports (COM and LPT) or Other Devices in the Ports (COM and LPT) or Other Devices section. If necessary, reinstall the drivers manually, pointing the way to the Qualcomm or Xiaomi driver folder.
- ❌ Error 1: Device not detected – replace cable or port USB.
- ❌ Mistake. 2: Bootloop – Reset your settings via Recovery or cross-stitch the original boot.img.
- ❌ Error 3: Banks Are Not Working – Set up DenyList and Hide Magisk.
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The main reason for the failure is the use of an incompatible version of the firmware to extract boot.img. Always take an image strictly of the version of MIUI that is on the phone.